Lounge chair



J. G. RIDEOLiT July 17, 1951 LOUNGE CHAIR Filed June: 26, 1948 JNVgNTOR. G. Fla/60w y John 0m R TORNEY Patented July 17, 1951 LOUNGE CHAIR John Gordon Rideout, Chagrin Falls, Ohio, as-

signor to Gendron Wheel Ohio, a corporation of 0 Company, Perrysburg,

Application June 26, 1948, Serial No. 35,393

Claims.

This invention relates to chairs particularly of the type having reclinable back frames and le rest frames, and an object is to produce a new and improved chair of this character in which the back frame and leg rest frame are interconnected so as to rock conjointly, the arrangement being such that upon backward movement of the back frame, the leg rest simultaneously swings upwardly in position conveniently and comfortably to support the legs, a particular feature residing in the arrangement and mounting of the parts enabling such conjoint movement to be achieved in a relatively effortless manner.

Another object is to produce a chair having a reclining back rest and leg support in which the two parts are interconnected, the leg rest being pivotall suspended from the arm rests at one end and pivotally connected at an intermediate point to a rigid support, the arrangement being such that in the extended or reclining position of the chair, additional length is afforded to the leg rest enabling the legs to rest comfortably and naturally in the reclining position.

A further object is to improve and simplify the structure and arrangement of chairs of this character, and for purposes of illustration but not of limitation, an embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a side perspective view of the chair showing the same in the upright position;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the chair shown in Figure 1, but showing the parts in fully reclining position with the back frame swung rearwardly and the leg rest swung upwardly to leg supporting position; and

Figure 3 is a fragmentary enlarged front end View showing the connection between the upper end of an arm of the foot rest and the arm rest.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a chair which, in the main, is made up of metal tubing, the supporting frame or standard comprising a U-shaped foot or support having upwardly and forwardly inclined parallel side arms I!) and an integral connecting arm ll resting upon the'supporting surface. Cooperating therewith is a rearwardly inclined U- shaped frame having parallel side arms I2 connected by an integral support-engaging arm l3. On the upper ends of the arms l2 are metal fittings M, which are pivotally connected at H: to the frame arms H] at points rearwardly of the forward ends of the arms In. Thus l5 designates the portion of each of the arms II), which projects forwardly and substantially horizontally from the pivotal connection l5. Mounted upon posed between the frame arms pivot pins l1 approximately midway of the length of the arms 10 is a U-shaped back rest frame l8 having a series of transverse yieldable cushion supporting straps l9.

Pivotally connected to a lower portion of each of the back rest arms are straps 20 connected by a bolt 2|, a plurality of holes 22 in the strap 20 affording length adjustment. The straps 20 are rigidly secured to wooden arm rests 23 respectively, which have brackets depending from their forward ends from which the upper ends of the side arms of a U-shaped foot rest 24 are pivotally suspended. As indicated at 25, the upper ends of the foot rest arms are rearwardly curved and integral with and depending from an intermediate portion of the curved end portion are rigid arms 26. The arms 26 are relatively short and are pivotally connected at 27 to the free end of the frame arm extensions l6.

The seat frame for the chair includes a pair of spaced parallel rods 28 joined by transverse straps 28a. The rear ends of the rods 28 are provided with longitudinally elongate slots 29 receiving the pivot pins 11, these end portions being inter- IB and the adjacent arms of the back rest l8. The forward end of each arm 28 is bent upwardly and forwardly as indicated at 30 and a hook 36a on the end pivotally engages a pin 3| on the adjacent arm of the U-shaped leg rest 24. It will be noted that each rigid arm 26 is disposed approximately midway between the pivot pin 3| and the pivotal connection between the curved end 25 of the le rest and the pivotal connection thereof to the respective arm rest 23.

For securing the parts in position of adjustment, a pair of rods 32 is pivoted at one end to the brackets depending from the front ends of the arm rest 23, the opposite ends being slidable through apertures in brackets 33 clamped to the frame arms Ill. An adjusting screw having an operating handle 34 is adapted to be tightened against each rod 32, thereby securely to hold the adjustable parts of the chair in the position of adjustment as will be readily understood.

A substantially U-shaped strap 35 connects the upper portion of the frame arms of the leg rest 24 and a yieldable strap 36 connects the lower portion suitably to support a cushion or other covering for the leg rest. Similarly, a series of resilient straps 31 connect the rods 28 to provide a cushion support for the seat frame.

From the above description, it will be apparent that by loosening the hand wheels 34, a person may recline the back frame l8 by merely leaning backwardly: In so doing, the arm rests 23 are moved rearwardly causing the leg rest 24 to rock upwardly, as indicated in Figure 2. By suspending the leg rest from the arm rests 23, a much longer leg support is provided, thereby obviating the objectionable feature of similar chairs of this character, in which the feet not infrequently -hang over the end of the leg rest and thus militate against complete comfort to the occupant. The parts are so arranged and the leverage is such that the back rest and leg rest can conjointly be actuated with a minimum of effort on the part of the occupant, it merely being necessary for the occupant tolean slightly backwardly in order to cause the parts to move to the reclining position. On the other hand, when in reclining position, the occupant has merely to lean slightly forwardly, whereupon the back rest swings forwardly and simultaneously therewith, the leg rest rocks downwardly to the position indicated in Figure 1. This is an exceedingly important feature in that it eliminates difficulties heretofore experienced with chairs of this character in which a very substantial effort is required to move the parts of the chair from "one position to the other.

It is to be understood that numerous changes in' details of construction, arrangement and operation may be effected without departing from the spirit of the invention especially as defined 1 :in the appended claims.

'What I claim is:

l. A lounge chair comp-rising a supporting standard, aback frame pivoted at one end to said standard, arm rests pivoted at one end to said back frame and extending horizontally therefrom, a leg rest frame having upwardly and rearwardly curved arms at the upper end thereof, pivotal connections between the upper ends of said curvedxarms and the forward end portion of said arm rests respectively, a seat frame includ iing rods pivotally connected at opposite ends to said back frame and said leg rest frame respectively, rigid arms depending from said leg rest frame adjacent the upper end thereof, and rigid horizontal disposed extensions on said standard pivotally connected'to said rigid arms, said rigid arms being relatively short and disposed substantially midway between the pivotal mounting of said rearwardly extending arms and the pivotal connection betweensaid seat frame rods and the leg rest frame.

2. .A lounge chair comprising a supporting standard, a back frame pivoted at one end to said standard, arm rests pivoted at one end to said back frame and extending horizontally therefrom, a leg rest frame pivotally suspended from the forward end portion of saidarm rest, the upper end of said leg rest frame constituting rearwardly curved arm portions, a seat frame including'rods pivotally connected at opposite ends to said back frame and said leg rest frame respectively, rigid arms depending from said leg rest frame substantially midway between the pivoted end of the leg rest frame'and the pivotal connection between the leg rest frame and the seat frame rods, and rigid horizontally disposed extensions on said standard pivotally connected to said rigid arms.

3. A lounge chair' comprising a supporting standard, a back frame pivoted at one end to said standard, arm rests pivoted at one end to said back frame and extending horizontally therefrom, a leg rest frame pivotally suspended from the forward endportion of said arm .rests,

a seat frame including rods pivotally connected at opposite ends to'said back frame and said leg rest frame respectively, the forward end portions of said seat frame rods inclining upwardly, relatively short rigid arms depending from said leg rest frame substantially midway between the pivoted end of the leg rest frame and the pivotalv connection between the leg rest frame and the seat frame rods, and rigid horizontally disposed extensions on said standard pivotally connected to said rigid arms.

4. A lounge chair comprising a standard including a substantially U-shaped forwardly inclined support, a U-shaped rearwardly inclined support connected to the forwardly inclined support at a point spaced substantially from the free ends of the U arms, a back frame pivoted to an intermediate portion of said forwardly inclined support, horizontally disposed arm rests pivoted at their rear ends to an intermediate ,porti'on of said back frame, a leg rest frame suspended'from the forward ends of said arm rests respectively, a seat frame including arms having a lost motion pivotal connection at their rear ends to said back frame and having upwardly extending front end portions pivoted to said leg restframe, relatively short rigid arms depending from said leg rest frame approximately midway between the pivotal suspension of said leg rest frame and the pivotal connection of said seat frame rods thereto, and pivotal connections between said rigid arms and the ends of said forwardly inclined support.

5. A lounge chair comprising a standard including a substantially U-shaped forwardly inclined support, a U-shaped rearwardly inclined support connected to the forwardly inclined support at a point spaced substantially from the free ends of the U arms, a back frame pivoted toan intermediate portion of said forwardly inclined support, horizontally disposed arm rests pivoted at their rear ends to an intermediate portion of said back frame, a leg rest frame suspended from the forward ends of said arm rests respectively, the upper end portions of said leg rest frame constituting rearwardly curved arm portions, a seat frame including arms having a lost motion pivotal connection at their rear ends to said back frame and having upwardly extending front end portions pivoted to said leg rest frame, relatively short rigid arms depending from said rearwardly curved arm portions approximately midway between the pivotal suspension of said leg rest frame and the pivotal connection of said seat frame rods thereto, pivotal connections between said rigid arms and the ends of said forwardly inclined support, and means for retaining the interconnected back frame, seat and leg rest frame in the desired position of adjustment.

JOHN GORDON RIDEOUT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 731,456 Hodges June 23, 1903 795,174 Shackleford July 18, 1905 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 9,105 Austria-Hungary Sept.'25, .1879 

